The Safest and Most Dangerous Cities In South Carolina - 2018 Ranking!

Also known as “The Palmetto State,” South Carolina has a hot climate and plenty of beaches making it a destination for those looking to escape the frosty weather up north.

Settled by the English in 1670, the colony named for King Charles I was split into North and South Carolina in 1710. The name "Carolina" comes from the Latin word "Carolinus," meaning "of Charles."

South Carolina has beautiful landscapes, with nearly 700 square miles of lakes, and an incredibly rich history where it hosted more battles than any other state during the American Revolution. It is the nation's leading peach producer and shipper east of the Mississippi River.

You can find the Magnolia Plantation, home to some of the most beautiful southern gardens in South Carolina. It’s the perfect place to look for hidden bridges, pick flowers, and explore the ponds and streams.

If you are considering moving to South Carolina or you already live there, make sure to continue reading to find out how safe South Carolina is compared to other states, and learn about its safest cities based on the most recent FBI crime report.

Ranking at #45 in terms of safety, South Carolina is the 40th state by size and the 23rd in terms of population, being home to around 4.961 million residents.

When it comes to safe and dangerous cities, the close-knit community in South Carolina, Bluffton, which previously ranked #5 in terms of safety managed to climb its way to the top and is now the safest city in the state with a 1669 crime rate per 100,000 people. Charleston, a major city in South Carolina, ranked #11 with a 2787 crime rate per 100,000 people, which is not common as larger cities tend to have higher crime rates.

Myrtle Beach, however, comes as the most dangerous city in the state, holding its spot as #1 compared to previous FBI reports. As for Columbia, the state capital, which previously ranked #22 danger-wise, is now ranked #18 among the list of the most dangerous cities in South Carolina.

Find out if your city is one of the safest in the state, then review our resources for crime prevention tips and home security information.

More Information About South Carolina

Capital: Columbia

Number of Counties: 46

Overall Population: 4.961 million inhabitants

Land Area: 32,020 square miles

Education Statistics: 26.5% of the population holds a bachelor's degree or higher, (percent of persons age 25 years+, 2011-2015)

Unemployment Rate: 4.0%

Crime Stats In South Carolina

Violent Crime Rate Per 100,000 Inhabitants: 501.8

Property Crime Rate Per 100,000 Inhabitants: 3,243.8

South Carolina’s Safety Rank: #45

Disclaimer:

In creating this ranking, we excluded all cities with population less than 5,000 residents as well as any cities that failed to submit a complete crime report to the FBI.

Table 1: Top 20 Safest Cities In South Carolina

Table 2: Top 20 Most Dangerous Cities In South Carolina

Table 3: All Cities, Ranked By Population